Exhibition: Fashionista harps on need for women to be creative

Mrs. Omotosho giving her welcome address

By Debra Abidemi Ajulo

A fashionista, Mrs. Omotosho Tokunbo Adebolanle has stressed the need for women to unleash their creativity in sourcing for alternate sources of income. 

Speaking with Witty News Hub at an exhibition organized for students of Faith Faviour Ideas Fashion Academy beside Citadel School, Sawmill area, Ilorin, she stressed that, “the downturn in the economy of the country is biting hard on everyone and so we need to find more creative ideas on how to survive.

“Keeping the home should be a collaborative venture between a man and a woman and so women need to start thinking out of the box on creative ways to fulfill their roles as mother and helpmeet and at the same time also fulfill destiny.”

While explaining that the Academy train women on how to be self reliant, she pointed out that, “Although women and girls are more inclined towards fashion we also train men too. Presently we have a male Corper.          

Mrs. Omotosho and the exhibitors

She explained that in conjunction with the NYSC, the Academy trains Corpers during their orientation exercise on how to be a fashion designer and anyone desirous of continuing the training would come to the Academy after the orientation.

Speaking on the exhibition, Omotosho who is the CEO of the Academy who expressed delight at the quality of work displayed disclosed that it is meant to open the eyes of the students to areas where they need more concentration and the strongest points. “As you can see, I’m just an onlooker today. I don’t judge their work because we have been together for the past three months and have become used to each other, I let other professionals do the work so that my students can know where to concentrate on.”

(L-R) Mrs. Omotosho with the judges; Mrs. Rotimi and Mr. Kenny

According to her, students of the Academy are trained within 6 months to be professional fashion designers who can stand on their own feet after the training. “I believe in hardwork, hardwork brings out the best in youths and that is why we make them work hard here. After, the first three months they have an exhibition like this one and then move to the advanced stage after which they defend their fashion proposal with projects.  By the grace of God, we have another graduation on July 14, 2018,” she disclosed.

In a chat with Witty News Hub, the class rep of the basic students, Mrs. Morufat Olamide Porter lauded the CEO of the Academy for the initiative stressing that, “what we have learnt in this academy for the past three months is what others learn for over a year in other places.”

Corroborating this, the only male student in the Academy, Mr. Lelei Gibson Xamani who is a corps member disclosed that he has been empowered to soar high. “I’m happy that I didn’t waste this one year of my service as I have been empowered to unleash my creativity.”

Seven students exhibited their work and were judged according to their ingenuity, business acumen and ability to defend their creative work.

Xamani been drilled at the exhibition 

Commenting on the exhibition, one of the judges, Mrs. Tosin Rotimi who is also the CEO of Latos Black Soap disclosed that, “when you put into consideration that these students have spent about three months in fashion designing you will agree that they have done very good, for starters but there is always room for improvement.”

Excited budding fashionistas with their mistress

Excited budding fashionistas